Julio Frenk, president of the University of Miami, was honored by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus with an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his outstanding contributions in the field of medicine.
Frenk was presented with the degree because of his outstanding contributions to regional and international development and “his work as an extraordinary health practitioner, scientist, politician, academic, and a truly model citizen in the Americas,” according to the citation read by Dr. Kenneth Connell, public orator for UWI, a member of the Hemispheric University Consortium.
Sir Paul Altman, chairman of the Cave Hill Campus Council and University of Miami alumnus, class of 1969, presided over the ceremony and said he was particularly honored to officially welcome Frenk to the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill through his attainment of an honorary doctorate.
“In his inaugural speech, President Frenk noted ‘the hemispheric U’ as ‘being uniquely positioned to propel the development of a major innovation hub with hemispheric scope,’ and his actions confirm his commitment to this region,” Altman said.
The ceremony also featured the conferral of honorary degrees for journalist Sonita Alleyne and cancer biologist Juliet M. Daniel. The honorary degrees were conferred upon the nominees at a special virtual ceremony in late March.
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies—the preeminent university in the English-speaking Caribbean and one of our most prominent partners in the hemisphere,” said Frenk. “The rigor and reputation of UWI, and the friendship we have enjoyed as collaborators on the Hemispheric University Consortium, make this honor all the more memorable.”
